Pondering an AK purchase.

I've been pondering buying an AK for a while now, and prices have come back down and I have so money saved up, so I'm probably gonna be getting it fairly soon. I have a couple questions though. I like the look of the underfolders, but was wondering about the ergonomics of them. For those of you who have them, are they solid? How comfortable are they to shoot? Are there any problems you have had with them?
Now to my second question. I looked on AimSurplus and found 2 that I could get. Both are underfolders, but ones a Romanian and ones a Yugoslavian.

Any reason to get one over the other? The Romanian comes with 2 extra magazines, a bayonet and a scope mount (which I probably won't use anyway). The Yugo has a nicer looking pistol grip and composite handguard which I like, but I plan on changing both out not matter which one I get so that's not a big deal to me. Any info would be much appreciated.

Oh yeah, probably should've put that in the original post. It's just gonna be a plinker/fun gun. I've got a AR-15 and AR-10 for any target work or hunting that I wanna do. I guess the AK appeals to me because ammo is fairly cheap, and well, it's an AK. I don't know exactly what it is, but it just has a certain appeal to it that I really like.

Oh yeah, probably should've put that in the original post. It's just gonna be a plinker/fun gun. I've got a AR-15 and AR-10 for any target work or hunting that I wanna do. I guess the AK appeals to me because ammo is fairly cheap, and well, it's an AK. I don't know exactly what it is, but it just has a certain appeal to it that I really like.

-Fred

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If you want a fun gun, look at an AK74. 5.45 is still dirt cheap. Much more accurate than a 7.62x39. Mine has many rolls. Standard stock set up w/ 30 round mag. Accurate to 160 meters, minute of man. It gets a 30mm Red dot mounted on a Kalinka optics side rail Weaver mount and .223 5 round mags for hunting. The mags function perfectly, but only hold 4 rounds of 5.45x39 which is fine for coyotes and woodchucks out to 150 meters. W/ a 30 round mag and the red dot it is good to Minute of man a 300 meters. I have tried to set the wood handgaurd on fire, but have not come close yet. 6 30 round mags rapid fire and it is not even smoldered yet.

I've found that the Yugos usually have better fit and finish to them, than the Romanian models. On the Yugos I looked at, they had flip up night sights, and an interesting flip up grenade launcher front sight. Best thing about them is it looked like they had the RPK style trunion. That beefs up the barrel to receiver fit, similar to the RPK squad weapons, and also how the VEPR AK's are built. They also went to using the 1.5mm thick receivers on these models. The Romanian models uses a 1mm thick receiver. But then again, that could be just the ones I looked at.

The Romanian models have lots of aftermarket accessories for them, probably a few more than most other models, I think mainly from the standpoint that they are the most affordable and the most prevalent ones on the market now, and have been for a while. You can still find Yugos, like the one you are looking at, some Bulgarians, and if you go to the shows, the occasional Russian, Maadi, Norincos, etc. but they are also asking for $$$'s.

Either of the two you picked out will work for what you want to do. Just comes down to personal preference. OR...you could always buy a SAIGA and convert it into an AK.

I've been pondering buying an AK for a while now, and prices have come back down and I have so money saved up, so I'm probably gonna be getting it fairly soon. I have a couple questions though. I like the look of the underfolders, but was wondering about the ergonomics of them. For those of you who have them, are they solid? How comfortable are they to shoot? Are there any problems you have had with them?
Now to my second question. I looked on AimSurplus and found 2 that I could get. Both are underfolders, but ones a Romanian and ones a Yugoslavian.

Any reason to get one over the other? The Romanian comes with 2 extra magazines, a bayonet and a scope mount (which I probably won't use anyway). The Yugo has a nicer looking pistol grip and composite handguard which I like, but I plan on changing both out not matter which one I get so that's not a big deal to me. Any info would be much appreciated.

-Fred

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I've owned a Romanian "G" model and I still own my Yugo m70ab2 underfolder. They can both be moded quite a bit or left alone if you're not into that. The Romy G was nice (looked like it had a better receiver than a WASR). However, I prefer my Yugo. I've moded my Yugo and it's just a lot of fun.

Attached Files:

I've found that the Yugos usually have better fit and finish to them, than the Romanian models. On the Yugos I looked at, they had flip up night sights, and an interesting flip up grenade launcher front sight. Best thing about them is it looked like they had the RPK style trunion. That beefs up the barrel to receiver fit, similar to the RPK squad weapons, and also how the VEPR AK's are built. They also went to using the 1.5mm thick receivers on these models. The Romanian models uses a 1mm thick receiver. But then again, that could be just the ones I looked at.

The Romanian models have lots of aftermarket accessories for them, probably a few more than most other models, I think mainly from the standpoint that they are the most affordable and the most prevalent ones on the market now, and have been for a while. You can still find Yugos, like the one you are looking at, some Bulgarians, and if you go to the shows, the occasional Russian, Maadi, Norincos, etc. but they are also asking for $$$'s.

Either of the two you picked out will work for what you want to do. Just comes down to personal preference. OR...you could always buy a SAIGA and convert it into an AK.

Oh yeah, for hunting purposes...try Wolf 154gr SOFT point.

Slo

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My Romanian Wsar2 is all Romanian, including the receiver(Cugir stamped). It does have a Tapco G2 double hook trigger set at 3.5lb. If you are talking a Century built rifle, it would have a thinner stamped receiver. All the Century built rifles have a thinner receiver, not just the Romanians. There are better receivers than a century, Arsenal being one.

JP thanks for that link. I've never came across that site myself. I'm also in the market for a few more AKs and surely want at least one 74 in the mix and preferably not a CAI build.

Anyone else got a ref to more sources for true Romy, Bulgy or other origins of a 5.45 chambered 74?

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Romanian rifles are as follows:
Sar1, Wasr10: 7.62x39
Wasr2, Sar2: 5.45x39
Sar3: 5.56x45
CAI imports almost all of them. The Sar2(Wasr) and Sar3 are Romy receivers.
Bulgarian all come in as "kits", no receiver and other parts. They are on U.S. receivers. All of the Sar2 & 3 I've seen have a chrome lined chamber and barrel.

My Romanian Wsar2 is all Romanian, including the receiver(Cugir stamped). It does have a Tapco G2 double hook trigger set at 3.5lb. If you are talking a Century built rifle, it would have a thinner stamped receiver. All the Century built rifles have a thinner receiver, not just the Romanians. There are better receivers than a century, Arsenal being one.

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LOL, I wasn't knocking either gun. I was merely pointing out that of the two, the Yugos use a 1.5mm thickness in their receivers. Just about all of the other AK's out there, excluding RPK variants, use 1.0mm thickness receivers, not just Century built units either.

Yeah JP I kinda know all that. . . I was referring to sources for mil-surp rifles that weren't built by CAI. You referred to your WASR 2 as being 100% Romanian, receiver and all. So that made me curious as to where these rifles could be had. I have CAI builds and they are OK in function, but my next AKs will be held to higher standards in regards to possibility of greater accuracy. I may end up going with a Lancaster and Arsenal build, but am definitely interested in ANY AK rifle that hasn't been chopped up.

Yeah JP I kinda know all that. . . I was referring to sources for mil-surp rifles that weren't built by CAI. You referred to your WASR 2 as being 100% Romanian, receiver and all. So that made me curious as to where these rifles could be had. I have CAI builds and they are OK in function, but my next AKs will be held to higher standards in regards to possibility of greater accuracy. I may end up going with a Lancaster and Arsenal build, but am definitely interested in ANY AK rifle that hasn't been chopped up.

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The Romanians are the only one I know of that are built semi auto and imported that way, with the exception of the Wasr10 which is a U.S. century receiver. .

LOL, I wasn't knocking either gun. I was merely pointing out that of the two, the Yugos use a 1.5mm thickness in their receivers. Just about all of the other AK's out there, excluding RPK variants, use 1.0mm thickness receivers, not just Century built units either.

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Just out of curiousity I mic'ed my receiver. .075", 1.905 Millimeters.
So Where are you finding Yugo receivers??? They don't make any semi's for export and you can't just weld or rivet the 3rd hole.

i would go with the yugo...in my opinion...but everyone knows opinions are like a**holes...everybody has one...everyone knows yugo anything is going to be built better...i have a 1 yugo under folder(milled receiver)2 china (norinco) and a couple of romies (stamped)...now im not saying the romies are not worth a damm(best priced ak-clones!)...all shoot without any problems and will get the job done...but if your looking for the better built (in my opinion) for the extra lil bit of cash,i'd go go with the yugo...of course if you can find one...and want a AK-with a real blued finished (tight!) receiver....find a norinco mak-90!or other..of course i doubt you'll find these for less then the price of 2 romies or yugoseither rifle you choose from either builder will be more then enough for the 4-P's= plinking,protecting,providing,pleasure....good luck on your AK-purchase & post up a range report ASAP!

OK. That's not my rifle, I was just curious as to what brother Cane was referring to as crap. I know ALL about AK purism, however I choose to keep an open mind when it comes to the improvement of the platform. I keep traditional wood furniture on mine (maybe not always in the historically accurate tone) , but do keep a quick detach side mount/scope combo handy even though I haven't completely dialed it in yet.